I'm ecstatic! Following the successful launch of the G42 in .380ACP last year, many of us in the industry have been waiting for the other shoe to drop.Today, Glock formally announced that the G43 will be released at the NRA Annual Meetings April 12-14 and will be in gun stores shortly thereafter.As someone who is 5'9" and 150lbs and who doesn't wear baggy clothes, I've been wanting a slimline subcompact 9mm Glock for conceal carry. While the G42 is a great form factor, I personally am not a fan of the .380ACP round for self defense. With the announcement of the G43, users like me are going to benefit from a slim form factor along with the more powerful 9mm round. I will get some hands on time with the G43 at the NRA Annual Meetings and share my findings with you here.Here's Glock's official press release:

SMYRNA, Ga – (Mar. 20, 2015) - TodayGLOCK, Inc.announced the release of the new GLOCK single stack slimline 9mm pistol, the GLOCK 43. The G43 is the most highly desired and anticipated pistol release in GLOCKs history. Designed to be the answer to everyday concealed carry needs, the G43 is ultra-concealable, accurate, and comfortable for all shooters, regardless of hand size.“The G43 is the most exciting product release to date because it addresses a variety of issues that many shooters face with pistols in the concealed carry category,” stated GLOCK, Inc., VP Josh Dorsey. “It will be the pistol of choice for law enforcement and civilians. The G43 sets a new standard for concealed carry pistols.”A true slimline pistol, the frame width of the G43 is just over one inch and the slide width measures only 0.87 inch. The overall length is 6.26 inches. For those who have smaller hands, the trigger distance is only 2.6 inches, making it ideal for functionality. The single stack magazine holds 6 rounds and is the perfect concealed carry pistol for both duty and civilian use. The G43 is engineered to the same superior standards as all GLOCK pistols and the reliability instills confidence for all lifestyles. The G43 will debut at the NRA Annual Meeting, April 10-12, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn., at the GLOCK booth (#633). Shipments of the product will begin directly following the convention.